In this issue 2013 INPS/APS Joint Annual Meeting...... 1 Greetings from the President...... 2 Dates to remember INPS State News...... 3 March 31, 2013: Comments on Barrel Type Cacti...... 12 Deadline to submit 2013 ERIG proposals Native Plant Production at IBG...... 15 Photo Contest Rules / Entry Form...... 16 March 31, 2013: Deadline to submit INPS Chapter News...... 18 American Penstemon Society grant proposal April 28 – May 4, 2013 INPS / AMERICAN PENSTEMON SOCIETY 2013: Native Plant Appreciation Week JOINT ANNUAL MEETING By Stephen Love, June 21-24, 2013: 2013 Meeting Arrangements Chair INPS/APS Joint Annual Meeting, Boise Invitation from the American Penstemon Society March 31-August 31, The American Penstemon Society (APS), an international organization established in 1945, 2013: Photo Contest made the decision to come to Idaho for their 2013 annual meeting. In a benevolent gesture, entry period they extended an invitation to the Idaho Native Plant Society (INPS) to conduct a joint meeting in Boise. This will be a unique and exciting opportunity to meet with professional and amateur July 11-15, 2013: botanists from North America and other parts of the world and a great chance for us to show Summer Botany Foray off the natural beauty and ecological uniqueness of the Gem State. Members of the American Penstemon Society are working with members of the Pahove Chapter of INPS to plan and conduct the meeting. This should make it possible to meet the needs of both organizations. However, because APS issued the invitation, and to avoid confusion, the meeting format will largely follow APS tradition. This means that the meeting will depart from what INPS has normally done in the past. A few differences include: meeting events will be based out of hotel facilities, meeting dates will include a time frame from Friday afternoon through Monday evening (if you choose to participate in the post-meeting tour, otherwise it is over on Sunday evening), and the meeting committee is arranging for a larger portion of meal and event expenses (meaning the registration fees will be higher). Hopefully, the opportunities provided by the meeting will balance out the greater commitment by INPS IDAHO NATIVE members in time and money. We encourage you to take advantage of this wonderful event, in PLANT SOCIETY spite of the departure from INPS tradition. February 2013 Included in this article is a detailed itinerary and description of events for the annual meeting. Volume 35 (1) At the end of the article, you will find an application form, complete with instructions for submitting your registration. Articles contributed to Sage Notes reflect the views of the authors Photo: Penstemon cusickii, an uncommon species found in southwest Idaho and eastern Oregon. and are not an official Photo by Beth Corbin position of the Idaho Continued on p.4 Native Plant Society.

Read Sage Notes online at www.idahonativeplants.org/news/Newsletters.aspx 1 IDAHO Native Greetings from the President Plant Society Dear Idaho Native Plant Society Members, Address: P.O. Box 9451, As we begin 2013 we have many opportunities coming our way this year. Boise, ID 83707 We are all looking forward to the annual meeting on June 21-23. This combined meeting with the American Penstemon Society will be one of the highlights of Email: the year. Elsewhere in this publication you will find the registration information [email protected] for that meeting. The registration fee is higher this year than we have seen in past years, but that fee includes three different meals, entry into the Idaho Web site: Botanical Garden, plus some additional miscellaneous expenses. I hope many www.idahonativeplants.org of our members will take advantage of this unique opportunity to learn more about Idaho’s penstemons. INPS BOARD MEMBERS Another opportunity that we have this year is to volunteer not just within President: LaMar Orton INPS, but outside of the organization. With all the fires on public lands last Vice-pres.: Stephen Love summer, there will be opportunities to help revegetate the burned areas. I hope Secretary: Nancy Miller each chapter will seek ways that its members can to help BLM, the Forest Service Treasurer: Elaine Walker and Idaho Fish and Game with the restoration efforts. In addition to the actual Past-president: Janet Benoit restoration work, we should all take the opportunity to comment to our Federal Member-at-Large: and State agencies on the plants and seeds that should be used. Such input is Mel Nicholls important to ensure that our wild areas are revegetated with native plants. Chapter Presidents are also members of the INPS Board Native Plant Appreciation Week is April 28 – May 4 in 2013. It is an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance and beauty of our native plants. We Standing Committees can spread the work with our posters and with special events during the week. Conservation committee As always we still need volunteers to help on some of our committees. chair: Justin Fulkerson (Pahove) Working on our committees not only helps the organization, but also gives us new insight into how important our volunteers are to having a well-functioning organization. 2013 Annual Meeting chair: Stephen Love (Sawabi) As I look out my windows now and see Siberia-like conditions, my mind Membership chair (interim): wanders to the coming spring and summer. What experiences lie ahead for us? Ardys Holte (Sawabi) Where will our plant excursions take us? What new plant will we see? Which old friends will we meet and what new friends will we make? I hope that you all have ERIG chair: many memorable experiences in 2013 and that we can take advantage of all that Janet Bala (Sawabi) INPS has to offer. We want to thank Craig Miller, for stepping in to help layout this Newsletter editor: issue on short notice. Jane Rohling (Pahove)

Adhoc Committees Lamar Orton INPS President Bylaws committee chair: Nancy Miller (White Pine) Please support the firms which advertise in Sage Notes. Let them know that you 2013 Photo contest committee: saw their ad in Sage Notes. If you don’t see your favorite native plant company, Pahove Chapter please send the editor the contact information and we will contact them. Nominating committee: Karie Pappani (Pahove) Karl Holte (Sawabi) Jody Hull (Pahove) Derek Antonelli (Calypso)

Rare Plant Conference chair: Beth Corbin (Pahove)

Ranking Committee chair: Beth Colket (Pahove) Have you heard? INPS is now on Facebook! Like our page to receive updates on chapter events and happenings from around the state. View our page at: https://www.facebook.com/IdahoNativePlants 2 Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 35 (1) Feb. 2013 INPS State News Sage Notes, the newsletter 2013 Joint Annual Meeting with the American of the Idaho Native Plant Society, Penstemon Society will be held June 21-24, 2013 in Boise. Please see is published in February, May, the article (on pages 1,4-9) for conference information and the registration form. September, and December. The meeting and field trip schedules and the registration form will also be posted Current and recent past on the INPS home page: www.idahonativeplants.org issues of Sage Notes are 2013 Photo Contest. There are no plans to publish an INPS calendar posted in full color online at www. this year, however there will be a Photo Contest. Entry forms and photos may be idahonativeplants.org/news/ attached to an email sent to [email protected] between March 31, Newsletters.aspx along with a 2013 and August 30, 2013. Please see the Contest Rules and the Photo Contest searchable index of 2006–2010 issues. entry form elsewhere in this document. Links to both documents are posted on the We are scanning and uploading older INPS home page: www.idahonativeplants.org. issues as time allows. Articles are currently being sought for the May and September Submissions: Members and issues of Sage Notes. Please consider submitting material which will be of interest non-members may submit material for to our members and our world-wide readers. Because Sage Notes is now posted publication. Relevant articles, essays, online, articles and other material reach a growing number of online readers in poetry, news and announcements, addition to those who read the printed version. A Google search of a topic related photographs and artwork are welcome. to Idaho’s native plants and habitats often brings up reference to a Sage Notes Authors, artists, and photographers article. Many of our members and contacts have knowledge to share with the rest retain copyright to their work and of us – please spread the word! And sometimes writing an article or researching a are credited in Sage Notes. Send all subject you know something about, but not all you would like to know, challenges submissions electronically to the editor you. See the sidebar to the right for submission guidelines. at the link below.

must be submitted by March 31, 2013. You can Submission guidelines 2013 ERIG proposals are posted on the INPS web site: find the 2013 submission guidelines, requirements, and application procedure on the www.idahonativeplants.org/news/ ERIG News webpage (http://www.idahonativeplants.org/erig/Erig.aspx) as well as Newsletters.aspx. Please provide a in the December issue of Sage Notes. Also shown is a table listing past recipients, phone number and/or email address their projects and links to the articles which have been published in Sage Notes. with your submission. Submission Proposals should be sent electronically to the chair, Janet Bala, at balajane at isu dot deadlines are January 8, April 1, edu, or mailed to: INPS ERIG Committee Chair, P.O. Box 9451, Boise, ID 83707. August 1, and November 1. ERIG donations may now be made from the ERIG News page using Advertising: Advertisements PayPal or your credit card. PayPal will process a credit card payment or electronic help reach environmentally-minded, check. You may include a message to INPS with your PayPal payment in the event native-plant-loving customers and help you wish to make a donation in memory of an individual. All donations are tax- support INPS. Prices: 1/8 page = $5, deductible and allow INPS to award more or larger grants in support of conserva- 1/4 page = $8, 1/2 page = $15. Submit tion, research and education. ads to the editor electronically (JPEG, TIFF, PSD, or PDF files). We would like to thank the following people and organizations for donations made to the ERIG fund since the beginning of the year: Nancy Cole, Molly O’Reilly, Send payment to: LaMar Orton, Susan Rounds, White Pine Chapter of INPS, and Reid and Nancy Sage Notes Ads, Miller in memory of Ray Boyd. P.O. Box 9451, Boise ID, 83707 2013 Native Plant Appreciation Week will be held April 28 – Sage Notes editor: May 4, 2013. This also coincides with Washington Native Plant Society NPAW. Jane Rohling, sage-editor@ Chapters will be announcing special events in conjunction with this week, and we idahonativeplants.org have requested a proclamation from the Governor’s Office. If you have ideas on Phone: (208) 938-3529 how to celebrate our native plants, let the officers know!

The INPS Bylaws Committee (Nancy Miller, Janet Benoit and Kristin Fletcher) met this fall and recently presented a proposed Amended Bylaws docu- ment to the Board of Directors. The Board has reviewed and accepted it. The Amended Bylaws will be posted on the INPS website and a vote by the member- ship will be scheduled this spring. More News on p.10

3 Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 35 (1) Feb. 2013 Hotel/Motels 2013 INPS/APS Joint Annual Meeting (continued from p.1) The Owyhee Plaza Meeting Dates Hotel will be the The meeting is scheduled for Friday, June 21 through Sunday, June 23. An optional post- base facility for meeting tour of the Hells Canyon region will be conducted on Monday, June 24. the 2013 APS/INPS meeting. All business Lodging meetings, banquets, Please make your own reservations for lodging. Information concerning lodging options is and presentations detailed to the left. associated with the meeting will be held Campgrounds (for those with a preference for roughing it): at this location. The Elaine Walker, INPS Board Member, has reserved the group camp site at the Gray Back Owyhee Plaza has Gulch U.S. Forest Service Campground for those who want to stay and socialize with fellow given APS and INPS plant aficionados. The INPS has agreed to cover the fees at this campground, thus allowing members a very attendees to stay for free. This campground is located on Hwy 21 just south of Idaho City, about affordable reduced 36 miles from Boise. Visit on the web: http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/boise/recreation/camping- rate for rooms ($80 cabins/recarea/?recid=5170&actid=33 to learn more about the Gray Back Gulch campground. per night for single or Contact Elaine (email: bat_hareem1 at hotmail dot com, cell phone: 1-208-761-3957, or home double occupancy). phone 1-208-336-3983) if you need more information about Gray Back Gulch or other camping Rooms will be held at opportunities. the group rate until May 31, so please Two other campgrounds, listed below, are within convenient driving distance of the meeting make your reservations events. If you wish to stay at one of these campgrounds, please make your own arrangements. early. Call the Owyhee Boise Riverside RV Park (located in the city, privately owned), 6000 N Glenwood, Garden City, Plaza reservation desk ID. Rates (may change): $25 for a tent site, $32 for an RV site). See: http://boiseriversidervpark. at 1-208-343-4611. (If com/ for more information. it is within your budget to stay with us at the Macks Creek Park Campground (located 25 miles northeast of Boise on the shores of Lucky Owyhee Plaza Hotel, Peak Reservoir, privately operated). Rates: $10 for a tent or RV site. See website for more we encourage you information: http://www.visitidaho.org/lodging/public-lands-campground/macks-creek-park/ to do so to help us meet minimum room Meals quotas for use of their Meals associated with the Friday reception, the Saturday evening banquet, and the Sunday convention facilities.) evening social are included in the registration fee. All other meals are on your own. Pack your The Owyhee Plaza own lunch and carry it with you on the Saturday, Sunday, and Monday field trips. Most field trips Hotel is located at involve travel into very isolated areas and it is essential that you carry enough food and water the northwest edge for an all-day excursion. of downtown Boise; Welcome Reception address is 1109 Main On Friday afternoon, beginning at 4 p.m., the Idaho Botanical Garden will host a welcome Street. reception. The garden is located at 2355 Old Penitentiary Road near the northeast boundary of Alternate nearby Boise. Food and beverages will be provided. At the gardens there will be an opportunity to have motels: a guided tour of the Lewis and Clark native plant gardens and to see the penstemon trials. Idaho Botanical Garden, 2355 Old Penitentiary Don Mansfield, professor Safari Inn-Downtown, Road, Boise Idaho 83712, (208) 343-8649, www.idahobotanicalgarden. at the College of Idaho 1070 W Grove org/ and keynote speaker for Street, Boise, Idaho the 2013 annual meeting 1-208-344-6556 Banquet The annual meeting banquet and business meeting will be held at the Cabana Inn, 1600 Main Owyhee Plaza on Saturday evening. A reception will start at 6 p.m. Street, Boise, Idaho and the meal served at 7 p.m. Following the meal, we will conduct 1-208-343-6000 short business meetings for both organizations and then be treated to a keynote speech by Dr. Don Mansfield. The following description of Budget Inn, 2600 West Dr. Mansfield’s credentials was taken from his professional web site: Fairview Inn, Boise, Idaho 1-208-344-8617 Professor Mansfield has been on the faculty at The College of Idaho since 1989. He teaches organismal biology, environmental science, field botany, plant physiology, and a course about plants and people entitled Murder, Medicine and Magic. His scholarly interests include the distributions of plants in southwestern Idaho and southeastern 4 Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 35 (1) Feb. 2013 Oregon and the biology of rare plants. He is currently writing a flora of the Owyhee region of southwestern Idaho and southeastern Oregon. Recently Dr. Mansfield received a National Science Foundation grant to provide funds for student internships to image and database all 42,000 specimens of the College’s Herbarium—one of the premier plant “libraries” for southwestern Idaho and surroundings. Sunday Social For those who can stay and participate after the field trips, there will be a social held at the Owyhee Plaza Hotel on Sunday evening. We will have a meal and view photographs of the meeting. Please take and share lots of photographs to make this a fun evening. Field Trips You can select two of the three available options for field trips offered as part of the regular meeting Penstemon davidsonii (Davidson’s agenda on Saturday and Sunday. You can also choose to attend the post-meeting, all-day penstemon) and Artemisia frigida tour of Hells Canyon on Monday. (Fringed sage) in the Western All Saturday, Sunday, and Monday field trips will leave from a parking lot located a few Waterwise Garden, Idaho Botanical Garden. blocks from the Owyhee Plaza Hotel, address 1511 W Bannock Street, Boise. We will carpool to minimize the number of vehicles on the tours. If you choose not to drive, you Photo by Ann DeBolt will be able to leave your vehicle in the parking lot until you return from the field trip (no overnight parking at this site). Mores Mountain/Bogus Basin Tour Leader: Ann DeBolt, Botanist and Natural Communities Specialist at the Idaho Botanical Garden. Time: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wildflowers on Mores Mountain along the Boise Ridge. Vehicle Requirements: no restrictions. USFS Photo Round trip distance: approximately 40 miles. This field trip involves a short drive north from Boise up Bogus Basin Road to Mores Mountain. Among the scheduled tours, this one includes the shortest driving distance (less than 20 miles, one way) but requires some hiking to see the greatest diversity of plants. The proposed hike is only 1-1.5 miles, easy, and very scenic. Mores Mountain is one of the higher peaks along the Boise Ridge, a range of relatively low mountains (highest peaks about 7,500 feet) extending from the foothill suburbs of Boise northward into the Boise National Forest. Located just south of Mores Mountain is Bogus Basin Ski Resort, a favored winter destination of local boarders and skiers. After snowmelt, this area becomes a succession of verdant forests and

Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 35 (1) Feb. 2013 5 meadows. A number of penstemon species can be seen on this tour, including P. payettensis, P. deustus, P. attenuatus, P. humilis, P. fruticosus, and P. wilcoxii. Many other unique and/or locally endemic species may also be seen, such as Mimulus cusickii and Lewisia sacajaweana. Reynolds Creek/Owyhee Front Tour Leader: Beth Corbin, BLM Botanist. Time: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Vehicle Requirements: moderate clearance vehicles recommended. Round trip distance: 75 to 170 miles, depending on the route conditions will allow. This field trip involves 36 mile drive west and then south of Boise on U.S. Highway 55 to Marsing, followed by another 20 miles southeast on U.S. Highway 78 to Reynolds Creek Road. Depending on weather and road conditions, the tour may stay mainly on the Owyhee Front or may continue into the crown of the Owyhee Mountains, stop at Silver City, a historic mining district, and possibly end up in Jordan Valley, Oregon. Slope in bloom in the The Owyhee Front, which includes the Reynolds Creek Drainage, is an ecologically unique Reynold’s Creek drainage region. Elevation ranges from 2,300 feet at the Snake River to 8,400 feet at the top of Hayden of the Owyhee Mountains. Photo by Beth Corbin Peak. The lower elevations include dry, sparse shrublands. As elevation increases, ecological zones change to western juniper woodlands and finally into Douglas-fir forests. This area is home to a number of rare plant species, including Astragalus mulfordiae, Cymopterus acaulis var. greeleyorum, Eriogonum shockleyi var. packardiae, and Stanleya confertiflora. One very rare penstemon is present on the Front, Penstemon janishiae, and we should be able to see this little beauty. A number of other penstemons are also common in the area, including a striking form of P. speciosus, plus P. deustus, P. attenuatus, and P. fruticosus. Succor Creek/Leslie Gulch Tour Leaders: Jean Findley, retired BLM Botanist from Vale, Oregon; and Stephen Love, University of Idaho Extension Specialist.

Penstemon miser along Time: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Succor Creek in eastern Vehicle Requirements: moderate clearance vehicles recommended, but not absolutely required. Oregon. Photo by Stephen Love Round trip distance: approximately 160 miles. This route has some rough roads that may not be suitable for sedans (although I have driven my Buick on all of these roads and never had a problem). This field trip involves a relatively long drive west and then southwest of Boise on U.S. Highway 95 across the Oregon border, then a loop back to the north on Succor Creek Road to Homedale, Idaho and ending up back in Boise. Along Succor Creek Road there will be a side trip into Leslie Gulch. Much of the trip entails isolated country with no services or assistance. The Succor Creek drainage is open, sagebrush country that includes areas of flat plains, rolling hills, and deep riparian canyons. Elevations range from 4,000 to 5,500 feet. Leslie Gulch is a spectacular feature of this region with vertical red cliffs that could just as easily have been transported directly from southern Utah. Although plants appear dry and brown in the late summer, this

6 Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 35 (1) Feb. 2013 region can have a spectacular flower season in the spring (this is one of those places that is dependent on good winter moisture to bring on the flowers). On this trip, you will see several penstemon species most of us have likely not seen. One is Penstemon miser, a species limited to tuffaceous soils of this narrowly defined region, and the other is P. cusickii. Other penstemons common to the area are P. deustus, and P. speciosus. A number of other rare or locally endemic species are present in the area, including Senecio ertterae, Mentzelia packardiae, Ivesia rhypara var. rhypara, Astragalus sterilis, and Trifolium owyheense. On the animal side, it is common to see herds of desert bighorn sheep along the road in Leslie Gulch. Monday Post-Meeting Tour Hells Canyon viewed from Hells Canyon Kleinschmidt Grade. Photo Tour Leader: Tony McCammon, University of Idaho Twin Falls County by Stephen Love Educator and amateur ethnobotanist. Time: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Vehicle Requirements: moderate clearance vehicles recommended, but not required (I’ve had my Buick on these roads, too). Round trip distance: approximately 270 miles. This is a long field trip that will take a full day. However, it will be more than worthwhile if you have never had opportunity to see the unique geography and ecology of the deepest canyon in North America. The route of the field trip will go from Boise, northwest on Interstate 84 to the Oregon border, north on U.S. Highway 95 to Cambridge, then northwest on Hwy 71 into the south end of Hells Canyon. After driving more than 20 miles into the canyon the route climbs 4,500 feet up Kleinschmidt Grade and wends its way back to U.S. Highway 95 at Council, then retraces the course back to Boise. A portion of this route is gravel and dirt, but most vehicles should be able to complete the drive without problem. Although the most rugged and spectacular portions of Hells Canyon are isolated from roads, the tour will still provide an opportunity to sample this remarkable realm. The elevation of the Snake River at the bottom of the canyon is about 1,000 feet and has unique ecological zones associated with the relatively warm, dry climate. Here we will find P. triphyllus, P. glandulosus, and many other unique species. On the grade out of the canyon, we hope to find P. elegantulus and other species adapted to dry slopes and moist clefts. At the top of the canyon rim, we will cross into ecosystems dominated by heavy fir/spruce forests alternating with rocky meadows creating the possibility of seeing P. gairdneri, P. payettensis, P. deustus, P. rydbergii, P. fruticosus, and P. wilcoxii. We may have opportunity to see a few rare species outside the genus penstemon, including Mirabilis macfarlanei and Phlox colubrina. Field Trip Preparation Most of the field trips take us into places with limited access to food, water, or other essential equipment. If you are driving, be sure to start each field trip with a full tank of gas. Make sure you have a good spare tire. All field trip participants, please bring: Sack lunch Water (at least ½ gallon per person) Jacket Wide-brimmed hat Insect repellant Good hiking shoes And don’t forget your camera and binoculars

Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 35 (1) Feb. 2013 7 Registration Annual Meeting Registration for the annual INPS meeting will open on March 1. We encourage you to Schedule register early to facilitate meeting planning, but we will hold registration open until the Friday meeting begins on June 21. 1:00 p.m. – Board Meeting, To register for the meeting, fill out and return the printed registration form included with APS (Owyhee Plaza Hotel) this article. You can pay registration fees using one of two methods: include a check 1:00 p.m. – Board Meeting, with the mailed registration form, or send the registration form separately then log onto INPS (Owyhee Plaza Hotel) the APS website (www.apsdev.org), click on the Annual Meetings tab, and follow the instructions to pay using a credit/debit card. 4:00 p.m. – Welcome reception at the Idaho Note: You must be a member of the American Penstemon Society or the Idaho Native Botanical Garden (food Plant Society to attend the joint annual meeting. If you not a member of one of the service begins at 6 p.m.) societies and wish to attend, please fill out and submit the meeting registration, then Saturday go online to your society of choice and complete a membership application. Web site addresses: APS: www.apsdev.org; INPS: www.idahonativeplants.org. All field trips depart from the parking lot located at 1511 W Bannock Street, Boise. 7:00 a.m. – Depart on the tour to Succor Creek/Leslie Gulch 7:30 a.m. – Depart on the tour to Reynolds Creek/Owyhee Mountains 8:00 a.m. – Depart on the tour to Mores Mountain/Bogus Basin 6:00 p.m. – Reception (Owyhee Plaza Hotel) 7:00 p.m. – Banquet, annual business meetings (APS, INPS), keynote speaker (Owyhee Plaza Hotel) Penstemon wilcoxii (left) and Mirabilis Sunday macfarlanei (below) Photos by Ann DeBolt All field trips depart from the parking lot located at 1511 W Bannock Street, Boise. 7:00 a.m. – Depart on the tour to Succor Creek/Leslie Gulch 7:30 a.m. – Depart on the tour to Reynolds Creek/Owyhee Mountains 8:00 a.m. – Depart on the tour to Mores Mountain/Bogus Basin 7:00 p.m. – Social and slide show Monday Field trip departs from the parking lot located at 1511 W Bannock Street, Boise. 6:00 a.m. – Depart for the post-meeting tour to Hells Canyon. Scheduled return time 6 p.m.

8 Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 35 (1) Feb. 2013 9 INPS NEWS (continued from p.3) The INPS Steering Committee for Rare Plant Ranking chaired by Beth Colket presented the Committee’s recommendations to the Board of Directors at the January Board meeting. These recommendations were approved and will be implemented for the Rare Plant Conference this fall. A southern Idaho Regional Working Group (RWG) meeting is scheduled February 7 in Boise (organized by Beth Corbin and Anne Halford) to continue the discussion and col- laboration. A northern Idaho Regional Working Group meeting is being organized by LeAnn Abell and Derek Antonelli to be held after the southern Idaho meeting. Listservs will be established for communicating within the Regional Working Groups. The recommendations will be posted on the INPS website under ‘Rare Plant Conference’ for members to read. Members interested in participating in a RWG should contact one of the organizers listed. Contact information will be posted and chap- ter presidents also have contact information. Have you paid your dues? January 1 was the date to renew your membership in the Idaho Native Plant Society. Check your Sage Notes label to determine your membership expiration year. Your dues help fund the Education, Research and Inventory Grant (ERIG) Program, the Rare Plant Conference, the Annual Meeting, Sage Notes newsletter, an informative website and other INPS programs and activities. A portion of your dues goes to fund Chapter activities as well.

You can renew or join online at www.idahonativeplants.org/inps/JoinInps.aspx. You can fill out the online form and pay through PayPal OR download the membership form and mail it in with your check. OR you may give your chapter Treasurer a check along with any updated information such as address, email, and phone changes. Membership categories are listed online. Thank you for your continued support of Idaho Native Plant Society Programs. Summer Botany Foray July 11-15, 2013. Dr. James Smith, Director of Snake River Plains Herbarium of Boise State University, is making plans for a foray in the Hazard Lake area. More details will be provided in the May issue and online. Facebook icon on the INPS Home Page. Be sure to like and follow INPS on Facebook. More detail about chapter meetings, events and announcements is showing up there now. Jody Hull is keeping our account up-to-date currently as announcements are forwarded to her. Our Flickr Group, Idaho Native Plants needs more members and more photos of the flora of Idaho. If you are not a member of Flickr, you may join at www.flickr.com. The group currently has 14 members and 201 impressive photos, but that is not enough to show off the diverse native flora of Idaho or the talents of our INPS photo- graphers. You don’t have to be a member of INPS to join our Flickr Group. It’s a great way to share your photos with others. Check us out at http://www.flickr.com/groups/idaho_native_plants/. Sage Notes The Editor and the Board are hoping to identify members or contacts who have experience using pub- lishing applications such as Adobe InDesign (CS 5.5) or who are willing to work as a volunteer with the editor to compile the material as it is submitted for Sage Notes. Sage Notes has received many positive comments both from within and outside INPS because of the professional approach and style Jane brought to its production. It is important that INPS con- tinue to produce a high-quality online publication, particularly in these times when our readership is not limited to INPS members. If you or someone you know would be interested in being part of the Sage Notes team, let us know. Helping with the editing and production of Sage Notes is an excellent opportunity to learn new skills and add to your resume. To learn more, contact: [email protected].

Memberships by Chapter & Category As of 12/31/12 Chapter Household Individual Life Patron Senior Student Sustaining Totals Calypso 1 4 0 0 10 0 1 16 Loasa 9 4 0 0 7 0 1 21 Pahove 29 50 6 1 28 5 9 128 Sawabi 20 5 1 1 23 1 1 52 Upper Snake 7 14 0 0 12 2 3 38 White Pine 20 30 0 0 20 6 8 84 Wood River 0 4 0 0 1 0 4 9 At Large 1 8 2 0 1 0 3 15 TOTAL 87 119 9 2 102 14 30 363 % by Category 24% 33% 2% 1% 28% 4% 8% 100%

10 Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 35 (1) Feb. 2013 Elections: The President and Secretary positions come up for election this year. A slate is being prepared by the Nominating Committee. Members will have an opportunity to The exhibit “David vote later this spring and the new officers will be introduced at the Annual Meeting. Douglas: A Naturalist at Work”, curated by Announcements: A paper describing Danielle Clay’s research on Castilleja christii Jack Nisbet, is at the has been accepted for publication in the American Journal of Botany. The abstract may Northwest Museum of Arts be viewed at http://www.amjbot.org/content/99/12/1976.abstract. Homoploid hybrid spe- and Culture Museum in ciation in a rare endemic Castilleja from Idaho (Castilleja christii, Orobanchaceae). Spokane through August Authors listed are D. L. Clay, D. C. Tank, S. J. Novak, M. D. Serpe, and J. F. Smith. 2013. Nisbet’s new book Quoted from the Conclusions: “We conclude that C. christii is a stabilized homoploid hybrid “David Douglas: A derivative of C. linariifolia and C. miniata and is likely following an independent evolution- Naturalist at Work: An ary trajectory from its progenitors.” This research was partially supported by an INPS Illustrated Exploration Education, Research and Inventory Grant (ERIG). across Two Centuries in the Pacific Northwest” The Idaho State Historical Museum in Boise has informed us that in the next few weeks was recently published and they will complete a large exhibit called Essential Idaho: 150 things that make the gem is the focus of the exhibit. state unique. One of the things they are featuring is Idaho plants. Some INPS members have provided photos for a large banner that will hang from the ceiling displaying a mon- Scottish naturalist David tage of Idaho plants. Contact for the exhibit is Kurt Zwolfer, Education Specialist at the Douglas (1799-1834) trav- museum, 208-334-2120 extension 11. eled the Columbia River and interior Northwest The American Penstemon Society seeks to fund small projects that focus on scien- (1825-1833), identifying tific or horticultural aspects of Penstemon, especially those that promote conservation or and collecting over two public appreciation. Grants of up to $1000 are available. The deadline for application is hundred species of plants, March 31, 2013, with funds distributed in May. Details are provided in the following pdf. animals, and birds previ- http://www.idahonativeplants.org/news/2013PenstemonSocietyGrant.pdf. Announcement ously unknown to science. was received from Dorothy E. Tuthill (DTuthill at uwyo dot edu), Special Projects Chair, Many bear his name such American Penstemon Society. as Douglas-fir. Northwest Museum of Arts Connor White, Rangeland Center Intern with the University of Idaho Rangeland Center has and Culture notified us of the new 2012 edition of the Backpack Guide to Idaho’s Range Lands. This 2316 W. First Avenue, seventh edition features color prints and color-coded page edges to easily move between Spokane, WA 99201 grass, forb and shrub sections. Proceeds from the sale of the book go to support a student http://www.northwestmuse- internship at the University of Idaho Rangeland Center. More information will be posted um.org/index.cfm/Exhibits_ soon on the INPS website. Collections_Exhibits.htm (509) 456-3931 Daniel Clay has shared the links for a paper and website regarding the new species delimitations within the genus Cryptantha s.l., based on morphology, habit, and phyloge- Yellowstone and netic data. Dr. Michael Simpson recently published with a graduate student on this topic Grand Teton (www.sci.sdsu.edu/plants/publications/Hasenstab_Simpson2012-Cryptantha-Boraginac. Wildflowers App: pdf). Cryptantha s.l. is polyphyletic so he and his colleagues split the large Cryptantha Taking your iPhone or s.l. genus into several extant genera and resurrected others. Dr. Ron Kelley of Eastern iPad to Yellowstone/Grand Oregon University in La Grande, Oregon and Dr. Simpson are currently working on Tetons this summer? Check Cryptantha and other borages for Vol. 15 of Flora of North America, which should be out in out this app on iTunes or at 2014. However, if you need to key a cat’s-eye or popcorn flower before that, you might use www.westernwildflowers. Dr. Simpson’s website http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/plants/oreocarya/index.html, where he has org. Richard J. and Marion many keys and lists of northwest and Rocky Mountain species of Cryptantha, complete Shaw’s family has created with their new and old names. this app based on the cou- ple’s photos and research New Feature: Flickr Hive Mind: Flickr often adds new features, and others write apps as a tribute to them. as well, which can access the millions of photographs in this photosharing database. The Flickr Hive Mind app mines the photo database for photos with a specific tag. (Tags are assigned to photos by the photographer who updates the photo; if tags are compound, spaces are removed.) An example: when looking for other photos of Castilleja arvensis substitue the tag ‘castillejaarvensis’ in the following URL. You will see a set of all the pho- tos from many photographers. Check it out! For example: http://flickrhivemind.net/Tags/ castillejaarvensis/Timeline

Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 35 (1) Feb. 2013 11 A Few Comments on the Barrel Type Cacti of Idaho By LaMar N. Orton

There seems to be some confusion about which barrel type cacti occur in Idaho. There is documentation found in some literature, such as Lyman Benson’s book “The Cacti of the United States and Canada,” that in addition to Pediocacti, there are also Coryphantha vivipara and Coryphantha missouriensis found in Idaho. The following is my view of what does and could occur in Idaho based on cacti distributions in surrounding states. First the Pediocacti: There are two Pediocacti species in Idaho. They are Pediocactus simpsonii and Pediocactus nigrispinus. Many varieties of these two species have been described, including several in Idaho. The Flora of North America and Intermountain Flora now do not recognize any varieties and the differences are viewed as variations. There is a variation unique to Idaho that may be a transitional form between Pediocactus simpsonii and Pediocactus nigrispinus. It was described as Pediocactus simpsonii var. indranus. Pediocactus simpsonii is by far the most widespread of the Idaho Pediocacti. I have observed this very variable plant in Twin Falls, Owyhee and Cassia Counties and all the way to Salmon. The predominant flower color of this plant in Idaho is yellow, but in some populations it can also be light pink to white. The scent of the flower is very pleasant and when large numbers of plants are in bloom at the same time, one knows the plants are present even before they are seen. The seed capsules are formed quickly after flowering and soon split to release the black seeds. Ants seem to be a major distributor of Pediocactus seeds. I have observed ants both in the wild and in our garden quickly removing seeds as soon as the capsules split. It appears that the ants are after the viscous liquid around the seeds and not the seed itself. In our garden we have had piles of dry seeds show up on the soil surface weeks after all the seeds had been removed and taken underground by ants. The overall plant size varies considerably with larger plants seeming to occur in the southern part of the State. This species does cluster a bit, but for the most part the plants have single heads.

Pediocactus simpsonii var. simpsonii. All photos in this article were taken by LaMar N. Orton in his Twin Falls garden.

12 Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 35 (1) Feb. 2013 Pediocactus nigrispinus is restricted to a relatively small area along the Snake River near Lewiston. This is the plant Pediocactus nigrispinus that is found commonly in Washington and Oregon. It is var. nigrispinus a much more robust plant than P. simpsonii with larger tubercles and thicker spines on mature plants. The flower color is rose pink to almost purple although in Oregon white flowering ones are occasionally found. The scent of the flowers is not at all the pleasant scent of P. simpsonii. The smell may even be considered stinky. Many of these plants have single heads, but it tends to cluster more than P. simpsonii with often very large clusters being found. Pediocactus simpsonii var. indranus was described by Fritz Hochstätter from Mannheim, Germany. In conversations that I have had with Mr. Hochstätter about this plant he has stated that he now is of the opinion that it should have been described as Pediocactus nigrispinus var. indranus. This variation appears to be found only in Idaho and occurs in the Shoup and Panther Creek areas of Lemhi County. It Pediocactus simpsonii has the same rose pink flower and smell as Pediocactus var. indranus nigrispinus. The plant is smaller than Pediocactus nigrispinus but clusters very heavily. Just south of Salmon there are clustering plants of P. simpsonii that seem to integrate with this plant but have the yellow P. simpsonii flowers. Coryphantha (also called Escobaria): Although I have been to most of the documented sites of Coryphantha in Idaho, I have never seen a Coryphantha cactus in the state yet. The populations are always Pediocacti. The following are plants that occur in the surrounding states that have the potential to be found in Idaho. Coryphantha vivipara var. rosea is found throughout a good part of eastern Nevada and western Utah. It occurs just south of Wendover, Nevada and often grows with Pediocactus simpsonii. It has the possibility to occur in southern Cassia and Twin Falls Counties. In this same area of Nevada grow Sclerocactus pubispinus and Echinocereus Escobaria vivipara engelmannii var. chrysocentrus, other candidates for var. rosea possible Idaho occurrence. Coryphantha vivipara var. rosea has rose pink flowers that are larger than P. simpsonii flowers. It has greenish fruits that form not long after flowering, but they are often held during late summer, through the winter and into early spring if not removed by rodents. The seeds are reddish brown. The plants can be as large as a Pediocactus and will occasionally cluster with a few heads. Coryphantha vivipara var. vivipara has the widest distribution of the C. vivipara, occurring from New Mexico and Texas to Canada. It occurs in Montana and Wyoming and could possibly occur in Idaho adjacent to those two states. The flowers of these plants are rose pink and are

Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 35 (1) Feb. 2013 13 Escobaria vivipara var. vivipara larger than Pediocactus flowers. The plants tend to have reddish spines, but spine color can be variable with some plants having also totally white spines. Although single plants are often found, this plant will cluster heavily and often have many heads. Coryphantha missouriensis has a wide distribution from North Dakota to Montana and south into New Mexico, Colorado and Nebraska. It occurs close to Idaho in Beaverhead County, Montana and could occur in Idaho in Fremont, Clark or Lemhi Counties. The flowers are yellow. This plant has the unusual characteristic of holding its seed capsules until spring, when they turn red. Therefore, the seed capsules are visible before flowering and not immediately after flowering like Pediocacti and the Coryphantha vivipara. The seeds are black. Escobaria missouriensis with It is generally a very small plant and after flowering retracts red seed capsules in spring into the soil and almost disappears. (Small Pediocacti will before flowering. retract similarly into the ground.) It can usually only be found when it is in flower or when the red seed pods are on the plant in early spring. It usually is found as a single-headed plant, but as plants age they occasionally cluster, but such clusters are seldom over 3-4 inches across. Over the years I have attempted to visit every documented site of Coryphantha species in Idaho, hoping to find such a plant. I have yet to find a Coryphantha in the state. Any information on a Coryphantha species found in Idaho would be greatly appreciated.

Plantasia Cactus Gardens in Twin Falls is a 5-acre botanic garden. Check their website at plantasiacactusgardens.com for more information about Open House and Plant Sale dates.

An old clustering plant of Escobaria missourienses in bloom.

14 Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 35 (1) Feb. 2013 The following article “Native Plant Production for the Morley Native Plant Production Nelson Snake River Birds of for the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey Prey National Conservation National Conservation Area by Ann DeBolt Area” is reprinted from the winter issue of the Idaho Botanical Garden’s quarterly newsletter, Garden Thymes. Our thanks to INPS members Ann DeBolt, Natural Communities Specialist, Idaho Botanical Garden and Anne Halford, Restoration Ecologist with the Boise District Office of the Bureau of Land Management. The Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area website (BLM) http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/prog/ blm_special_areas/birds_of_ prey_nca.html has additional information about the National Machaeranthera canescens, Chaenactis douglasii, Public Lands Day planting of and other seedlings in the IBG greenhouses seedlings and the difference In the summer of 2011, the Idaho Botanical Garden was contacted by the volunteers can make. local Bureau of Land Management office to determine our interest in growing native perennial forbs for post-fire habitat restoration in the 500,000 acre Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. Propagating a relatively large quantity of native plants from seed was a first for us. Most of the desired species are not commercially grown, and in some cases, little is known about their germination requirements. A propagation plan was developed first. Seed was then germinated using a combination of methods. Some species required scarification (seed coat modified in some way to allow moisture to enter), and others needed no treatment at all and were simply sown outside in winter or early spring. The goal was to produce plants for outplanting in October 2012 once fall rains began. Species we grew include: Bigflower agoseris - Agoseris grandiflora Douglas false yarrow (Chaenactis Netleaf hackberry - Celtis reticulata douglasii) above and Sagebrush penstemon (Penstemon speciosus) Douglas false yarrow - Chaenactis douglasii below are two of the native wildflowers Prairie clover - Dalea ornata grown for this project. Sulfur buckwheat - Eriogonum umbellatum Photos by Ann DeBolt Hoary aster - Machaeranthera canescens Sand penstemon - Penstemon acuminatus Sagebrush penstemon - Penstemon speciosus Munro globemallow - Sphaeralcea munroana At the time of this writing (late October), the last of the 2,400 seedlings are being planted by BLM staff and volunteers. A few Garden staff members have been able to help as well. We have learned a lot and hope to grow more of these important native wildflowers again for next year’s rangeland restoration projects.

Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 35 (1) Feb. 2013 15 2013 INPS Photo Contest Rules

Who may submit photos INPS members or their immediate family members are eligible to submit photos. A maximum of 5 photos per individual can be submitted. Photos will only be accepted from the photographer who shot them. How might my photos be used? Your photos may be used as part of the image library (to be housed on the INPS website), in education and outreach materials, in Sage Notes, and in future calendars. The photographer will retain the copyright of images he or she submits. INPS will have the right to use the images submitted in documents promoting Idaho native plants. Please do not submit photos of people. What are the start and end dates? Photos will be accepted from 03/31/2013 until 8/30/2013. Photos will be judged by a photo contest committee during the fall of 2013. Official winners will be announced on January 1, 2014. What types of photos are acceptable? INPS will only accept photos of plants native to Idaho. No ornamentals please. Identify the plant to Genus and species (if possible). Please label your photos by Genus_species (if possible) then detail, (where detail = location, pollinator, or other) followed by photo ID number generated by the camera (Example: Celtis_reticulata_BoiseCounty_6693.jpg). No spaces allowed in the image file name. How are photos grouped and judged? Photos will be grouped and judged in the following three categories: 1. Close-up shot of a single species 2. Habitat with multiple species 3. Plant-pollinator interaction There will be 1st and 2nd place winners in each category. What format of photo is acceptable? Up to 5 high resolution digital images may be submitted by each individual. Each image must be no larger than 10 mb. Prints and slides will not be accepted but may be digitized by the entrant so that the photo(s) may be submitted in digitized format. Formats accepted are jpg, png, and tif. How do I submit a photo entry? Submit digital images by email preferably or by USPS on a CD. In either case each image must be accompanied by the entry form which is posted on the state website (www.idahonativeplants.org). The entry form can be copied and pasted into a Word document and attached to the email. To submit by email, send each image and matching entry form separately with subject line: INPS Rules and Entry Form photo contest # of # to [email protected] are also posted on To submit by USPS, send a CD of images and entry form to the following address: the INPS webpage www.idahonative- Idaho Native Plant Society plants.org. INPS Photo Contest P.O Box 9451 Boise, Idaho 83707 Prizes To be determined and to be awarded January 1, 2014 with official announcement of winners.

Earlier photo contest entries by Sarah Walker, Michael Mancuso, Cyndi Coulter, Michael Mancuso, Julie Riddle, Gay Gilbert. 16 Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 35 (1) Feb. 2013 17 INPS Chapter News INPS Chapters CALYPSO CHAPTER PAHOVE CHAPTER When: Meetings are the first Wednesdays UPCOMING EVENTS CALYPSO CHAPTER of March, April, May and October at 7:00 821 W. Mustang Ave. Hayden, ID 83835 p.m. Field trips are during the spring and Thursday, February 7, 2013 – fall and we do not meet from November to Presentations by our Board President: Derek Antonelli February. Vice President: Vacant Members Where: Conference room of Idaho Secretary: Karen Williams MK Nature Center, 7:00 p.m. Department Fish and Game, 2885 W. Treasurer: Janet Benoit We are so privileged to have board mem- Newsletter: Vacant Kathleen Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815 bers who love to travel abroad and at Contact: Derek Antonelli, antonelli8 at home to discover the wonders of plants. LOASA CHAPTER frontier dot com In this double presentation, Caroline, 340 E 520 N. our treasurer, will show us wildflowers of Shoshone, ID 83352 Turkey and/or Croatia AND Justin, our UPCOMING EVENTS President: Kelvin Jones one and only conservation committee March 6, 2013: Business: Determine Vice President: LaMar Orton member, will teach us more about a local field trips for the upcoming season. Secretary/Treasurer: species, Packard’s milkvetch. Lois Rohay Presentation: Hager Lake Vegetation Study. PAHOVE CHAPTER Thursday, March 14, 2013 – Cedars P.O. Box 9451 April 3, 2013: Business: TBD. of Lebanon, and lichens as indica- Boise, ID 83707 Presentation: Tentatively on the tors of forest health, characteristics of the Lily Family. [email protected] Presenter: Roger Rosentretter President: Karie Pappani May 1, 2013: Business: TBD. MK Nature Center, 7:00 p.m Vice Pres.: Elaine Walker Presentation: Possibly on the Roger Rosentretter is a recently retired Secretary: Danielle Clay characteristics of the Rose Family. Botanist, gardener, and world traveler. He Treasurer: Caroline Morris will share with us some of the plants he Venue Coord.: Susan Ziebarth LOASA CHAPTER encountered on a recent trip to Lebanon. Conservation: Justin Fulkerson It’s sure to be an exciting journey! Members at Large: All INPS members and the public are wel- Cyndi Coulter, Karen Colson, & come to attend chapter events. Jody Hull When: Meetings are held the third Thursday, April 11, 2013 – Native Thursday of each month plant landscaping SAWABI CHAPTER Presenter: Peggy Faith 146 South 17th Ave. Pocatello, Where: Taylor Building, Room 258, MK Nature Center, 7:00 p.m. ID 83201 College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls Peggy is a landscaping expert and President: Bob McCoy Contact: Kelvin Jones, (208) 886-7051 gardener passionate about utilizing plants Vice Pres.: Dick Anderson & that will do well with little care in our arid LaRue Gregersen PAHOVE CHAPTER climate...what better plants to use than Secretary: Barbara Nicholls natives? Peggy will share with us her When: Meetings are generally held on Treasurer: Cathy Frischmann secrets to establishing and maintaining News to members: Linda Johnson the 2nd Thursday of each month from native plants in our gardens. Chapter News: Ardys Holte September through April, 6:30 p.m. Web site: Catalina Steckbauer Where: Meetings are usually held at the SAWABI CHAPTER Hospitality chair: Pauline Havens Meetings: We welcome the public to our Conservation/Education MK Nature Center Auditorium. chapter’s informative programs. chair: Janet Bala Contact: For up-to-date information about Members-at-large: Janet Bala, Pahove Chapter activities visit the INPS When: First Monday of each month, Pauline Havens, Ardys & Karl website: www.idahonativeplants.org, the October through April, 7:00 p.m. Holte, Linda Johnson, Chris INPS Facebook page, or email Karie McCoy, Mel Nicholls, & Shirley Pappani at pahove.chapter.president at Where: Middle Fork Room of the Pond Rodgers. gmail dot com Student Union Building, ISU Campus, Pocatello. We are well on our way into another great Contact: Call (208) 241-5851 or email season filled with interesting presentations [email protected]. and excellent opportunities for camara- derie. Our upcoming presentations from February through April are described in this issue. 18 Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 35 (1) Feb. 2013 INPS CHAPTER NEWS SAWABI CHAPTER UPCOMING EVENTS INPS Chapters Monday, February 4, 2013. Recent activities at the Ray J. Davis Herbarium UPPER SNAKE CHAPTER President: Allen Perkins Presenter: Dr. Rick Williams, Herbarium Curator Vice President: Sue Braastad Our February 4th meeting will feature Dr. Rick William’s presentation on the recent Secretary: Alan Crockett activities at the Ray J. Davis Herbarium - Idaho Museum of Natural History on the Treasurer: Dave Godfrey ISU campus. Dr. Williams will discuss the history and importance of the herbarium, Members-at-large: Mark & Donna Whitman recent field trips and collections, and progress in putting its resources online for the public. Following the presentation there will be a tour of the herbarium. Dr. Williams WHITE PINE CHAPTER is a plant ecologist at ISU and curator of the herbarium. [email protected] Monday, March 4, 2013. Photo Presentations President: Sonja Lewis Presenters: Chapter member Vice President: Susan Rounds Secretary: Pat Fuerst The March 4th meeting will be members’ photo presentations of last year’s memo- Treasurer: Elisabeth Brackney rable trips. Each year members are invited to share a 10-minute slide show for the Member-at-large: Pamela Scheinost Pavek enjoyment of all during the March meeting. Past President: James Riser Landscaping & Restoration March 23-30, 2013 will be our annual desert spring wildflower trip. This cor- Plants: Juanita Lichthardt Publicity Chair: VACANT responds with ISU’s spring break. The details are TBD and will depend on spring Web: Nancy Miller, Patricia Hine rainfall patterns among other considerations. www.whitepineinps.org April event will be our annual dinner meeting, the election of officers for the next year and the selection of spring and summer field trips. WOOD RIVER CHAPTER P.O. Box 3093 Hailey, ID 83333 President: Carol Blackburn SAWABI CHAPTER RECENT EVENTS Vice President: VACANT In October, ten members of the Sawabi Chapter and the Upper Snake Chapter Secretary: VACANT visited the Plantasia Cactus Gardens in Twin Falls. The visit was hosted by LaMar Treasurer: VACANT Orton, garden owner and President of the Idaho Native Plant Society. The visitors were impressed with the botanical garden-like layout (including labels) and the variety of cacti in the facility. After the visit the members enjoyed lunch at a Persian restaurant. Please see the photos included below.

UPPER SNAKE CHAPTER Sawabi members visiting Plantasia Cactus Gardens When: Meetings are usually held the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. Field Trips are scheduled in the spring and summer. Photo by Dick Anderson Where: Idaho Fish & Game office, Idaho Falls Contact: Sue Braastad, braastads at yahoo dot com

WHITE PINE CHAPTER Meetings: During the spring and fall, meetings are held once a month. Field trips occur regularly whenever the weather allows. Please check the chapter website for events which may be scheduled or finalized after this issue is printed: www.whitepineinps. org or email the chapter officers at [email protected].

Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 35 (1) Feb. 2013 19 INPS CHAPTER NEWS - Sawabi recent events

Four species of “Cholla” - A Visit to From the left, Cylindropuntia Plantasia ramosissima, several different Cactus forms of C. echinocarpa, then Gardens the white-spined one C. whip- plei. The tall ones in the back are C. imbricata. There is another C. echinocarpa by the C. imbricata. Two Thompson yuccas (Yucca thompsoni- ana) are in the background. (Thanks, LaMar!) Photo by Dick Anderson

Sawabi Christmas Party In spite of a drenching rain, more than 50 members enjoyed the annual Sawabi Christmas Party at Karl and Ardys Holte’s residence. Pete Frischmann and Mel Nicholls braved the elements to deep fry the turkeys and everyone had a great time.

Joselin Matkins and Ardys Holte sharing a light moment in the kitchen. Photo by Roger Ray Laible and Keene Hueftle Harrer discussing serious matters. Photo by Roger Harrer

Ray Laible’s photo odyssey

The January meeting featured Ray Laible’s photo odyssey from Glacier National Park to the fjords of British Columbia. Ray’s pictures of this sparsely settled and beautiful country captured the flora, fauna and scenery.

Mountain goat kids between Glacier and the fjords of British Columbia. Photo by Ray Laible

20 Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 35 (1) Feb. 2013 INPS CHAPTER NEWS White Pine CHAPTER Upcoming Events Please check the Current Events Calendar on our chapter website www.whitepineinps.org for additional information about programs and field trips. Members will receive email updates as information becomes available.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013, 7:00 p.m., White Pine Chapter Meeting Topic: Hager Pond Ecology Study Presenter: Derek Antonelli, Calypso Chapter president, Idaho Master Naturalist Location: 1912 Center, Great Room, 412 East Third St., Moscow, Idaho (between Adams and Van Buren) Derek Antonelli of the Idaho Master Naturalist Program will present highlights and findings of a 2012 plant ecology study at Hager Pond (Lake) in North Idaho. A study was initially conducted as research for a doctorate thesis by a WSU student in 1952. That study was repeated by professional IDFG botanists in 1992. The property’s owner, Archie George, wanted to see a follow-up study in 2012,­ 60 years after the initial study. IDFG approached the Idaho Master Naturalist Program to see if we could take it on as a volunteer project which they agreed to do. Twenty-seven volunteers put in 64 days of field work on the proj- ect. White Pine chapter has held previous field trips to this fen with its floating mats of veg- etation and plans to schedule one this summer. Hager Pond Thursday, March 21, 2013, 7:00 p.m. White Pine Chapter Meeting Speaker: Michael Mancuso of Mancuso Botanical Services Photo by Nancy Miller Topic: Idaho endemics and some North Idaho special plants Location: 1912 Center, Fiske Room, 412 East Third St., Moscow, Idaho (between Adams and Van Buren) Michael will be discussing and showing photos of Idaho endemics - plant species occur- ring in Idaho and nowhere else. We will also be treated to images and stories about some special northern Idaho plants that he has had the opportunity to photograph and research. He was with the Conservation Data Center and then the Natural Heritage Program for many years - leading efforts to document information about Idaho’s rarest plants.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013, 7:30 p.m. White Pine Chapter / Palouse Audubon Joint Meeting Topic: Birds and Plants of the Dempster Highway Speaker: Sarah Walker and Jerry Cebula Location: 1912 Center, Great Room, 412 East Third St., Moscow, Idaho (between Adams and Van Buren) The Dempster Highway is a Canadian Highway (Yukon Highway 5 and Northwest Territories Highway 8) which connects the Klondike Highway in the Yukon to the Northwest Territories on the MacKenzie River Delta. The highway itself sits on top of a gravel berm to insulate the permafrost in the soil underneath. Without the thick pad, the permafrost would thaw and the road would sink into the ground. From past experience we know that Sarah and Jerry will have some wonderful photos of birds, wildflowers and scenery which most of us have never seen.

Saturday, May 4, 2013. Tour of riparian/wetland/forest restoration project near Deary, Idaho. Co-leaders: Trish Heekin, Latah Soil and Water Conservation District and Craig Hatley Meet at 8:15 a.m. Eastside Marketplace, Moscow, ID (south side of the parking lot) to arrange carpooling. During part of the tour 4WD high-clearance vehicles will be required. Participants will carpool to the Hatley property about 3 miles east of Deary arriving about 9:00 a.m. The tour is on Hatley family land and is timed to see the rare Leiberg’s tauschia

Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 35 (1) Feb. 2013 21 INPS CHAPTER NEWS

White Pine (Tauschia tenuissima) in bloom. We will see the continuing habitat improvements begun in member the 1940s by the late George Hatley and his wife Iola as erosion rehabilitation. Restoration Ray Boyd – projects now are continued by his son Craig. Arboretum memorial Tuesday, May 14, 2013. White Pine Chapter meeting Topic: Landscaping with Native Plants White Pine chapter has lost Speaker: Don Childress, past president of Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society a long-time friend – one who Location: 1912 Center, 412 East Third St., Moscow, Idaho (between Adams and Van brought joy and knowledge Buren) to our chapter. Ray Boyd Don has been active in the Master Gardener program especially emphasizing using native died December 30, 2012 in plants in landscaping. He is also one of the contributors to the Landscaping with Native Moscow. He was a charter Plants book produced by KNPS. Don will share some of his successes and the unexpected member, an early chapter challenges of landscaping with natives that he experienced landscaping his own property. president, and helped lead a Don’t miss this timely program.....it will help ensure great results with new acquisitions from number of field trips. He was our plant sale the following Saturday! very knowledgeable about but- terflies as well as our native Saturday, May 18, 2013, 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., White Pine Chapter Plant Sale wildflowers. His work as a Setup: Friday, May 17, 2013. Details will be sent via email to members and contacts silviculturist concentrated on Please check the website for up-to-date information. research into forest regenera- Location: 1912 Center, Arts Room, 412 East Third St., Moscow, Idaho (between tion. He continued to foster Adams and Van Buren) research and mentor those entering the field after his retirement. WOOD RIVER CHAPTER Contact: Carol Blackburn at Aspens held a special place blackburncrl at yahoo dot com for Ray, and before his death, for information on activities and he and his family had begun gatherings. Income: discussing with Paul Warnick, horticulturist of the University Membership Dues 4,912.95 of Idaho Arboretum, the cre- Ads, Annual Meeting, etc 144.08 ation of an aspen grove in the Sales (2012 Calendar, T-Shirts) 1,645.60 Arboretum. Ray had identi- Donations (ERIG, General) 738.00 fied some groves from which Total Income 7,440.63 native aspen ‘clones’ might Expenses: be collected for this dream. Sage Notes Editing, Printing 3,044.73 We all hope that this project comes to fruition and that one Supplies, Postage, PO Box, Fees 129.84 day a beautiful aspen grove Ray Boyd ERIG Expenditures 604.10 will grace the Palouse Hills Sales tax (56.94) and the Arboretum grounds. Calendar printing 1,609.29 A fund has been established Total Expenses 5,331.02 with the University of Idaho Net Income 2,109.61 Foundation – the Ray Boyd Arboretum Fund, account #TJF180. His former col- Balance Sheet leagues, INPS White Pine Assets: members, and other friends Checking, Savings, 6-mo CD 12,568.57 will collaborate to establish Total Assets 12,568.57 this grove with UI Arboretum Liabilities: staff. Unpaid dues to chapters - Sales Tax due (estimate) 1,044.77 Unclaimed ERIG funds (2007-2011) 2,971.90 Total Liabilities 4,016.67

Treasurer’s Report 4th Quarter 2012 Treasurer’s Net Balance 8,551.90 22 Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 35 (1) Feb. 2013 Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 35 (1) Feb. 2013 23 Sage Notes Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Idaho Native Plant Society Boise, ID P.O. Box 9451, Boise, ID 83707 www.idahonativeplants.org Permit No. 679

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Where Color is Affordable! (208) 392-1481 • www.boisemetrodigital.com

“Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a miracle ... a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to the light, a bud straining to unfurl. And the anticipation nurtures our dream.” - Barbara Winkler

Photo by Terry Gray

Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 35 (1) Feb. 2013